Bird (1988)
Eastwood’s recent films centering on historical figures (J. Edgar, American Sniper) have felt emotionally hollow. Bird is an exception, a mostly factual tribute to both the titular musician and the jazz genre. The back and forth narrative does a brilliant job in showing the life of tortured artist Charlie Parker. Masterfully portrayed by Forrest Whitaker, Parker’s world was dour and dark and Eastwood certainly taps into that aesthetic. It’s a touching movie that’s made with equal parts anger, enthusiasm and sadness.
Advertisement
Advertisement